USA overturns a 19-point second-half deficit to claim a dramatic 40–36 victory in its WXV Global Series opener
The USA Women’s Eagles produced one of their most impressive comebacks in recent memory on Sunday, scoring four tries in a devastating 16-minute stretch to defeat Ireland 40–36 at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
Ireland appeared to have complete control after building a 31–12 advantage early in the second half. Instead, the Americans remained composed, increased the physical pressure and transformed what had been a difficult afternoon into a statement victory for head coach Jack Hanratty and his developing squad.
It was the USA’s first win over Ireland since 2018 and ended a run of three consecutive Irish victories in the series. It also gave the Eagles an important result against a side that entered the match ranked fifth in the world and playing in front of its home support.
Ireland’s blistering opening
Ireland immediately punished the USA’s defensive uncertainty.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan crossed after less than seven minutes before tries from Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Aoife Wafer gave the hosts a 17–0 advantage after only 19 minutes. Ireland played quickly, supported its ball carriers and repeatedly found space before the American defense could organize.
The Eagles finally established a foothold through co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding, whose 24th-minute try was converted by 19-year-old flyhalf Annabella Vogel.
Ireland answered almost immediately through Eve Higgins, however, restoring a 17-point margin at 24–7. Hope Rogers then powered over for the USA shortly after the half-hour mark, keeping the Eagles within reach at 24–12.
Although the Americans had survived Ireland’s initial surge, the hosts struck again shortly after halftime. Captain Erin King scored Ireland’s fifth try and Dannah O’Brien converted, stretching the lead to 31–12.
At that point, the match looked to be moving decisively in Ireland’s direction.
The comeback begins
The momentum changed in the 57th minute when Kathryn Treder scored the first of her two tries. Vogel’s conversion reduced the deficit to 31–19 and gave the Eagles renewed belief.
Treder struck again seven minutes later, taking advantage of the pressure created after Elmes Kinlan was shown a yellow card. Vogel added another conversion, suddenly bringing the USA within five points.
Ireland, which had attacked with confidence during the opening half, began to look increasingly uncomfortable. The Eagles’ carries became more direct, their support arrived more quickly and their pressure at the breakdown denied Ireland the clean possession it had enjoyed earlier.
Hallie Taufoou completed the initial comeback by crossing in the 69th minute. Vogel’s conversion gave the USA its first lead of the afternoon at 33–31.
Only three minutes later, Freda Tafuna delivered the decisive blow. The powerful No. 8 scored the Eagles’ sixth try, with Vogel again converting to push the advantage to 40–31.
In just over 15 minutes, the USA had scored 28 unanswered points against one of Europe’s fastest-improving teams.
Ireland mounted one final attack and Dorothy Wall scored in the final minute, but O’Brien missed the conversion. The Eagles held on to complete an extraordinary 40–36 victory. The official match record lists six tries for each team, with Vogel’s five conversions ultimately providing the winning margin. World Rugby match centre
Vogel delivers under pressure
Vogel’s performance deserves particular attention.
Starting at flyhalf with only a handful of international appearances behind her, she converted five of the USA’s six tries. Her accuracy became increasingly important as the Eagles mounted their comeback, and she successfully added the extra points following all four second-half tries.
In a four-point match, those conversions were decisive.
Beyond her goal-kicking, Vogel helped the USA remain composed when it would have been easy for a young team to chase the game recklessly. The Eagles continued to trust their physical strengths, gradually improved their field position and waited for Ireland’s discipline and defensive organization to falter.
That patience was rewarded.
The American pack changes the match
The distribution of the USA’s tries tells the story of its performance.
Perris-Redding, Rogers, Treder, Taufoou and Tafuna all scored, with Treder crossing twice. The Eagles relied on their forwards to drag them back into the contest, and that group became increasingly influential as the match progressed.
Treder’s two tries provided the immediate spark, but the overall impact came from the collective. Rogers gave the USA a platform before halftime, Taufoou pushed the Eagles ahead and Tafuna supplied the crucial late score.
It was a victory built through power, persistence and an ability to keep playing after conceding five tries.
Plenty still to correct
The result should not conceal the USA’s problems during the opening 20 minutes.
Conceding three early tries forced the Eagles into an enormous recovery effort. Their defensive spacing was repeatedly exposed, while missed tackles and slow organization allowed Ireland to generate momentum far too easily.
Against England, whom the USA will host later in the WXV Global Series, a similar start could place the match beyond reach before the Eagles have an opportunity to respond. Ireland also managed a final try despite the USA holding a nine-point lead, another reminder that closing matches remains an area for improvement.
Nevertheless, the response matters. The Eagles did not collapse after falling behind 17–0 or even after Ireland extended its lead to 31–12. They adjusted, trusted their forward pack and finished with the greater physical and emotional control.
A statement for Hanratty’s new era
Hanratty described facing an in-form Ireland side in Dublin as a major test for his young squad. The Eagles passed it in dramatic fashion.
The USA arrived without Ilona Maher and with only six members of the matchday squad that faced Ireland in 2024. Ireland, meanwhile, had won each of the previous three meetings between the countries, including a 26–14 victory at WXV 1 in Vancouver. RTÉ match preview
That makes Sunday’s result more than simply an exciting comeback. It is evidence that the next generation of Women’s Eagles can compete with leading international opponents—and can win difficult matches away from home.
There will be concerns about the defensive start, discipline and the ease with which Ireland initially created scoring opportunities. But a young American side just traveled to Dublin, recovered from a 19-point second-half deficit and defeated the world’s fifth-ranked team.
For a program attempting to build toward the 2029 Rugby World Cup on the back of Women’s Elite Rugby and an expanding domestic player pathway, this was exactly the kind of victory it needed.
The performance was imperfect. The response was exceptional. And for the Women’s Eagles, a 40–36 win in Dublin could become an early landmark in the development of something much bigger.
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